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In 1924, Pavel O. Sukhoi joined the Central Aero and Hydrodynamic Institute, or TsAGI, eventually becoming a bureau design leader under Andrei N. Tupolev on ANT-25 long-range record-breaker. During 1939, Sukhoi established his own design bureau, using previous Bureau Osovikh Konstruktsii offices, and began the redesign of the ANT-51 with an M-88B engine, a low wing and an increased offensive load, this emerging as the BB-1, entering series production in 1940, and being redesignated Su-2 in 1941.

In Second World War Sukhoi's own name was especially associated with Su-2 light bomber and attack aircraft.

After January 1949, the bureau’s next design was the Aircraft R prototype for a planned Su-17 supersonic fighter. But in November 1949 the Sukhoi bureau was closed down by Stalin and the almost complete prototype was cancelled. Sukhoi and most of his team were transferred to the Tupolev bureau and continued work in the development of the aerodynamic and structural features required for supersonic fighters.

In 1953 Stalin died, and Sukhoi’s request for his own design bureau was then granted: this produced a new sequence of numerical designators that leads to considerable confusion in the identification of Sukhoi aircraft. The first result of the bureau’s re-established independence was a series of swept-wing and tailed delta prototypes in the S and T series.

He was responsible for twin jet Su-7 of 1947. The later and unrelated Su-7 of his second jet series became a swept-wing attack aircraft first seen 1956. Su-9, operational from 1959, and Su-11 were single-seat all-weather fighters with delta wings. The operational and large-size Su-15 twin-jet delta-wing allweather interceptor was also tested in prototype Flagon-B STOL form in July 1967. Su-17 first flew August 1966 as very much improved variable-geometry fighter developed from Su-7, and was followed by Su-20 and Su-22 for export. Su-24 is a variable-geometry attack type, seating two crew side-by-side and has been in service since February 1975. A nuclear strike bomber, reconnaissance and electronic warfare aircraft, Su-24 was designed to penetrate enemy defenses for five minutes at 1,400km/h and 200m altitude, as a supersonic replacement for the II-28 and Yak-28. In total, about 1,200 Su-24s were built during 1972-92, finally giving way on the production line to the Su-27IB.

Sukhoi died in September 1975, but subsequent Sukhoi designs continue to honor his name. These include Su-25/Su-28 and Su-39 related subsonic close-air support and tank-busting jets (first Su-25 flew February 1975 and became operational in 1981). The Su-27 Flanker long-range air-supriority fighter (first flown May 1977 and in production since 1982 for home use and export, latter including J-11s assembled in China), the tandem two-seat Su-30 multirole fighter and attack variant of Su-27 that carries further avionics to allow it to command a group of Su-27s (first flown December 1989 and users including India). The side-byside two-seat Su-32FN maritime strike aircraft and Su- 27IB or Su-34 tactical interdictor developed from Su-27, the Su-33, or Su-27K carrierborne fighter Su-27 derivative (first flown August 1987 and first deployed on board Admiral Kuznetsov'm 1995). Su-35 advanced air-superiority fighter (first flown June 1988) and Su-37 variant with thrust-vectoring nozzles, again Su-27 developments.

A fifth-generation tactical fighter, approximately equivalent to the U.S. F-22, is the S-37, first flown in September 1997 and featuring swept-forward wings and eventually to have thrust-vectoring engine nozzles. S-54 and S-55 are newly designed lightweight jets for multirole combat and training uses, T-60S is a projected strike bomber of very stealthy appearance and S-80 is a new transport with patrol and surveillance variants. A program in 1999 was the development of the KR-860, a super-large 860-seat airliner. General-aviation programs include Su-26, Su-29 and Su-31 single- and two-seat aerobatic competition aircraft (first flown 1984, 1991 and 1992 respectively) and Su-49 tandem two-seat primary trainer, while projects are for S-16 twin turboprop transport for 16 passengers or cargo, S-21 10-passenger supersonic business jet (with projected 68-passenger S-51), S-38 single-seat agricultural monoplane, and S- 96 twin-propfan 8-passenger executive transport.

In 2016 Sukhoi, major aircraft holding company, employed more than 26,000 people. 100% of stock of the Sukhoi belonged to the United Aircraft Corporation (JSC). The Company is Russia’s major manufacturer of export aircraft, placed third in the world in terms of the numbers of modern fighters produced.